Study Programmes

The Graduate Institute offers three advanced degrees in international law, two at the master’s level and one at the doctoral level. The LL.M. in International Law (LL.M.) is a one-year postgraduate degree course that equips students with the knowledge and professional skills necessary to advance or launch a career in international law. The Master in International Law (MIL) is a two-year research-oriented postgraduate degree that provides a solid grounding in the foundational areas of international law. The Doctorate in International Law (Ph.D.) provides a select number of students—who have completed the MIL or an equivalent degree—with the opportunity to pursue rigorous research on a topic of international law, under the supervision of one of the Institute’s international law professors.

Research Track

Master in International Law

A two-year programme providing in-depth training in international law as well as the tools and approaches necessary for a rigorous legal analysis of contemporary issues, with complementary courses in other disciplines (economics, history, political science and development studies).

The Master in International Law requires intensive work at an advanced level in the field of international law, and familiarisation with at least one other discipline (anthropology/sociology of development, international economics, international history and politics or international relations).

The degree programme comprises compulsory courses, optional seminars and the writing of an original research dissertation in the the second year.

The Master in International Law sets out to provide participants with the tools and approaches necessary for a rigorous analysis of contemporary international legal problems.

Ph.D. in International Law

The Graduate Institute’s Ph.D. in International Law is a challenging degree tailored for outstanding students with a strong commitment to international law and a proven ability in independent research work. It helps to prepare graduates for an academic career or for research-oriented positions in the public or private sector.

The Ph.D. programme is small by design and admits a limited number of students each year. The size of the programme and close contact with professors facilitates an intimate and highly stimulating environment in which to grow intellectually. This degree is a recognised and well-established platform for advanced graduate research in international law. With a wide range of research and professional interests, the Faculty members offer research supervision in a variety of subjects.

In addition to formal research supervision from their supervisor, doctoral students can expect wider intellectual support at all stages of their research, for example through doctoral seminars.

During their doctoral studies, candidates are required to obtain 24 ECTS credits for coursework and to present and defend a preliminary thesis. The programme, culminating in the presentation and defence of a doctoral thesis embodying an original and significant piece of research, is designed to take a maximum of four years.

Professional Track

LL.M. in International Law

A one-year programme that provides advanced, comprehensive and practical training in international law. In addition to teaching general and specialist legal knowledge, the LL.M. in International Law facilitates a deeper exploration of the most pressing issues in the discipline and hones the professional skills necessary to launch or advance a career in international law.

Courses

The courses offered by the International Law Department provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary for the rigorous analysis of contemporary international legal issues. The curriculum covers a wide-range of both public and private international law subjects and focuses on dispute settlement, international economic law, international environmental law, human rights, international humanitarian law, international criminal law, migration law, State responsibility, territory and sovereignty, as well as other subjects.

Students in the International Law Department may also take courses offered by the other departments of The Graduate Institute as well as courses at the University of Geneva Faculty of Law.